The English Tourism Council has started grading university and college rooms because so many are rented out to tourists.

The council has introduced a star rating system similar to that used for hotels and bed and breakfasts.

But the scheme has been greeted with caution by students, who fear it may ultimately affect the quality of accommodation offered to them.

Tourist customers will be given priority over students in some cases

NUS

VisitScotland already includes halls of residence in its grading schemes.

So far only four English universities have been graded.

The universities of Reading, Hertfordshire and Kent as well as Christ Church University College in Canterbury have been given ratings ranging from one to four stars.

Next week a further six institutions are expected to join their ranks.

The assessments are based on 45 different criteria including size of room and comfort of bed.

The rating system for campuses is not the same as the one for hotel accommodation - so students in a five-star room will not be able to boast that they are staying in the equivalent of a five-star hotel.

Rent worries

The new standards have been introduced because more and more colleges are renting out rooms during the holidays to make use of facilities which would otherwise lie empty.

Chris Weaver of the National Union of Students told BBC Radio 5 Live the ratings could have a mixed effect for students.

"We have no objection to universities using university accommodation for tourist reasons, for conferences over the summer.

"We happily recognise that does keep the costs for students during term-time down to a minimum by using the facilities more effectively.

"We would just be concerned at any development where that became the focus of the accommodation, rather than the prime aim - which is to provide affordable quality accommodation for students during term-time.

"Those conference customers and those tourist customers will be given priority over students in some cases."